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TAKE TWO

`Success and failures make us anxious'

Actor BHARAT and director VISHNUVARDHAN on life in tinseldom

PHOTO: R. RAGU

It's a lazy Sunday afternoon. But there's no stopping actor Bharat and director Vishnuvardhan. Effervescent by nature, they make a happy twosome for a Take Two. Recent successes have catapulted the two to Kollywood's top league. At 22, Bharat is the only current star to have had two releases on the same day - "Veyil" and "Chennai Kaadal." In films such as "Four the People", "Kaadal", "Pattiyal" and "Em Magan", he proved his prowess as a serious performer. Yes, "Boys" Bharat has grown up! Vishnuvardhan's pattiyal of films isn't big. But two of his three films - "Arindhum Ariyamalum" and "Pattiyal" — were crowd pleasers. Slick frames and a free-flowing narrative are the 30-year-old director's hallmark. Among his forthcoming films is the remake of superstar Rajnikanth's smashing hit "Billa" with Ajit playing the title role.

As the two indulge in friendly banter in the ritzy Presidential Suite in Taj Coromandel,

T. Krithika Reddy joins in the laughter...

Vishnu: Bharat you start. Please, on a decent note.

Bharat: (laughs, gets serious) Vishnu, how did you get into films?

Vishnu: I started as a child artiste in "Anjali" and "Kshatriyan".

Bharat: Those bits don't count. (Laughter)

Vishnu: Initially, I was just having fun. Later, I got seriously interested in films. So I did Visual Communication in Loyola, and joined Santosh Sivan. I assisted him in "Terrorist" and "Asoka", before starting on my own. My directorial debut "Kurumbu" was a remake of a Telugu film. Though it didn't do well, it gave me the confidence to handle my own script in "Arindhum Ariyamalum." Okay, what was Bharat before "Boys"?

Bharat: I was doing my first year B. Com in New College when "Boys" happened. Director Shankar, who was scouting for fresh talent spotted me at the Swingers Dance Company. He liked my kind of Jazz and Hip Hop. When the film took off, I wasn't bothered about success or failure. I was just excited to see my face with the other "Boys" all over the press. I was an ordinary middle class boy with middle class aspirations. I wanted to complete my B.Com and do MBA. Though "Boys" gave me a high, I wasn't sure about my career. "Kaadal" was the turning point. I realised I could perform.

Vishnu: You are an intense performer. I knew it when I cast you in "Pattiyal."

Bharat: Initially, I was a bit apprehensive. Because my co-star was Arya, who had just given a hit, "Arindhum Ariyamalum."

Vishnu: You got scared I'd take you back to square one after the success of "Kaadal"? (Laughs)

Bharat: Success has been a struggle. I made my debut as one among the five Boys. Again, in "Four the People," I was one among the four. It took a long time for me to bag meaty roles. So after the success of "Kaadal," when I was offered "Pattiyal," I wondered how I could bring about the separation in our roles and perform. But you handled our characterisation so deftly. And the film turned out to be my biggest opening ever. Okay, Vishnu, it's about nine months since "Pattiyal." What's your next film?

Vishnu: To a director, gaps aren't a big thing. But for a hero they matter! A director must believe in his film. And get an actor who also believes in his film. After "Pattiyal," I launched "Sarwam" with Surya in the lead. Somehow, it didn't happen. So I've signed Madhavan for the role and the film will take off soon. All my films travel on a strong emotional note and plenty of action - "Sarwam" too will have these elements. Then, there's the challenging remake of superstar's "Billa." Ajit will play the hero in this slick take on the superhit. I plan to treat it like a Bond film. Bharat, tell me where do you see yourself five years from now?

Bharat: Maintaining one's success rate isn't easy in this industry. But I want to sustain it. That will keep me going for the next 20 years! (Laughs) I will be careful in my choice of roles - look for films that offer enough scope to perform - but at the same time, they must be entertaining, not dry.

Vishnu: I think your unconventional looks and expressions contribute to your success. Remember what I told you when I saw the posters of "Killadi"? You don't see Bharat in them, you see a performer. That happens when actors don't think of themselves, but about the film. When I was casting for "Arindhum Ariyamalum," nobody wanted to work for me. I never thought about the `image' of the hero. But now, actors are willing to trust me.

Bharat: So, expectations must be high, particularly about "Billa"?

Vishnu: Oh, don't scare me.

Bharat: Tinseldom is one place where success and failures make us anxious, isn't it?

Vishnu: Yes, though you start afresh with every film, the fear is always there.

Bharat: When "Boys" happened, I didn't know how to define success and failure. But now, I think, a career in films means a balance of both. You have to take them in your stride.

Vishnu: It ceases to matter when we enjoy what we are doing. We have so much fun on the sets. And I've noticed, a film works when we have a fabulous time on the sets. The chemistry gets translated onto the screen!

Bharat: That's the case with most young directors. They strike a great rapport with the artistes. They do their homework, explain the conception of the scenes and leave it there. So the onus is on you to perform. Vishnu, tell me, who's your inspiration?

Vishnu: There are a whole lot of filmmakers from world cinema who have influenced me in varied aspects of filmmaking. But locally speaking, they are Mani Ratnam, Bhagyaraj, and, of course, Santosh Sivan. But more than influences, I like my films to reflect myself. I like them to be free flowing and bubbly. There's restlessness in me. It shows in my films too. It's my plus and my minus. Bharat, you've worked continuously for so long...

Bharat: I've worked for one-and-a-half years without a break. It's been work-home or work-hotel (on outdoor shoots).

Vishnu: No, there's a correction. (switches to Tamil) Work vitta work, work vitta work... . (laughter)

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